Ally - Fixing Documents from the Course Modules

What Ally Does

Ally automatically scans course content in Brightspace for common accessibility issues and provides feedback to help faculty gauge the overall accessibility of their course, along with step-by-step guidance for fixing issues.   Ally also generates alternative formats of accessible documents.  Specifically, Ally provides the following information:

• A color-coded graphic organizer of all the different documents in your course.
• An accessibility score for your course with step-by-step instructions for making your document more accessible.
• An accessibility score for individual documents added to Brightspace along with instructions to correct them.
• Alternative accessible formats for your documents in the following formats:
  • HTML for viewing the document on mobile devices
  • ePub for reading on Ipads and other e-book readers
  • Electronic Braille 
  • Audio for listening to the document
  • BeeLine Reader for faster reading comprehension
  • Immersive Reader to assist with grammar and comprehension skills
  • Translated version for most world languages
  • Tagged PDF for PDF and most Microsoft documents
  • OCRed PDF for scanned documents

This document explains how to utilize Ally in order to:

• Locate your document's accessibility score
• Interpret your document's Ally accessibility score.
• Remediate your documents with Ally
• Double check your revised document's accessibility score

Locate your Document's Accessibility Score

Ally automatically checks for accessibility issues in your new, existing, and updated course content then assigns each item an accessibility score based on the number and severity of the issues. These scores are represented by a numerical scale, from 0% to 100%, and a colored gauge with a low, medium, or high tag.   Ally runs in the background on your course and provides feedback automatically as part of your normal course workflow. You will find the Ally indicators to the right of each content item, in the menu area of each individual content page, and within the Course Accessibility Report. 

1. After uploading a document in any format to Brightspace, Ally will automatically scan your document.  A small colored gauge will appear to the right of your document within a minute or two.  If you have a document with a large number of pictures the scan will take several minutes.  
2. After opening your Brightspace course, locate the course module with the document.  To the right of your document, you'll see a colored gauge that document's accessibility score.  

Interpret your Document Accessibility Score

To interpret your document's accessibility score, hover your cursor over the colored Ally gauge.  You will then see Ally's categories for your document.  Ally assigns a numeric value with 0% being the lowest score and 100% being the highest.  Colors and text are also used to represent the same information:                                                                                                               

• The lowest accessibility score will have a red gauge with Needs Help. 
• The second lowest score displays a yellow gauge with A little better.
• A light green gauge mentions Almost there. 
• The highest accessibility score is noted with a dark green gauge and Perfect Ally score.

If you didn't get at least 85% it's time to fix your document.

Remediating your Documents with Ally

1. To begin repairing your document, click on the gauge icon.  This will open a new window in Brightspace for you.  Ally will now guide you through the steps to fix your document.

      2. When the new page opens your document will appear on the left side and Ally's support will appear in a black box on the right side of the page.

Unfortunately I can't change the number scheme below.  I lose the number.

1. 3. Under your accessibility score Ally will display the most important correction needed in your document.  The box What this means offers a more detailed explanation about that accessibility topic and how you can resolve the issue.  
2. 4.Follow the onscreen step-by-step instructions to repair your document.
3. 5.Repeat these steps until all of your document issues have been corrected.

Double Check your Revised Document's Accessibility Score

Now that your documents have been remediated, let's return to Ally and locate your new accessibility score.

1. After locating the document in your course module, refresh the page to get the most recent accessibility score.  If you have a large document 
2. If your document's score is at least 85% then the accessibility issue has been resolved.   If not, repeat the above steps until your score is at least 85%,